Love Like This.

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” -Matthew 7:12

This verse, in my life, has always been connected with not being mean. Treat others how you want to be treated. Don’t be mean because no one wants to be treated unkindly. And while there is truth in this, I have come to believe, deep down, each one of us truly wants to be loved, not just have some ‘kindness’ thrown our way. We were designed and created in and by Love itself. And we all yearn to return home, into Love.

The essence of all that is taught in the law and prophets is the law of love. We don’t love well. So God spelled out for us through the law and prophets just how short we fall from the kind of love He created us for… we were created for a selfless, loyal, unconditional, enduring love. 1 Corinthians 13 describes love as follows: Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always ‘me first,’ doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

Now, let us do unto others whatever we would like them to do to us… love us no matter what… even despite us… this is why He gave us His Spirit - to Love like this.